Ignition system



y 8 19 6- w. J. MORRILL 2,401,175

IGNITION SYSTEM Filed March 12, 1943 Inventor: Wayne J. Morfill,

His Attorney.

. an improved high frequency Patented May 28, 1946 -Wayne J. Morrill, Fort Wayne,

General Electric: Company, a

New York Ind., assignor to corporation of Application March 12, 1943, Serial No. 478,921

I Claims.

My invention relates to ignition systems and more particularly to low voltage high frequency systems of this type.

An object of my invention is to providean improved ignition system.

Another object of my invention is to provide ignition system circuit in the distributo produce a spark diswhich utilizes a resonant tion-circuit of the system charge at the spark plugs.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent and my invention will be better understood from the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will-be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

distribution circuit are made such that; the change in the inductance in each distribution circuit by the insertion of the magnetic shunt 20 provides a resonant circuit with each respective distributor transformer to produce a spark discharg periodically at each respective spark discharge device or spark plug ill. The spark plug transformer is adapted to raise the voltage supplied to it by its respective distributor trans- The drawing schematically illustrates an igni- I tion system provided with an embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown an ignition system adapted to be provided with a high frequency current energization from any suitable source It across which a capacitor II is connected. This source of high frequency current is connected to a distributor provided with a plurality of transformers equal in number to the number of spark plugs in the system. Each of these transformers is provided with a primary winding I2 arranged about a leg of a transformer core l3 and inductively coupled with a transformer secondary winding [4 arranged about another leg of the transformer core 13. The primary windings i2 are shown all connected in series with each other across the source of high frequency current in but may be connected in parallel if desired. Each secondary winding I4 is connected to its respective distribution circuit which includes a capacitance l5 and an inductance formed by a transformer having a primary winding it and a secondary windin l1 connected across a spark plug l8. The capacitance l5 may be the distributed capacitance of the various parts of the system or may also include a separate capacitor connected in the circuit. The distributor is provided with a rotatable coupling member i9 formed of magneticmaterial which is adapted periodically to close the magnetiacircuit between the legs of each transformer core i3 consecutively to complete the magnetic circuit of the distributor transformer and subsequently to insert a magnetic shunt formed by a leg on the transformer core It. The vaiues'oi capacitance and inductance in the former and to provide a peak voltage when its distribution circuit becomes resonant, as described above, to produce an electrical breakdown of its respective spark plug. In this manner, I

have provided an ignition system in which the distributor is arranged to connect a high frequency source of current inductively to a distribution circuit and also to provide for the distribution of ignition current to each spark plug of the system without any intermediate electrical spark device or circuit breaker requiring sparking electrodes or contactors, as the entire system is coupled together and operable by electromagnetic inductive circuits.

While 1 have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my. invention, modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that my invention is not to be limited to the particular arrangements disclosed, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An'ignition system including a distribution circuit with a spark discharge device, a transformer connected to said spark discharge device,

capacitance in said distribution circuit, and

means including a distributor for inductively connecting a source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a member for changing the inductance of said distribution circuit providing a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device producing a spark discharge at said discharge device.

2. An ignition system including a distributon circuit with a spark discharge device, a capaci tance in said distribution circuit, a source of high frequency-current, and means including a distributor having a transformer for connecting said source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a magnetic shunt and a rotatable magnetic coupling member for varying the inductance of said distribution circuit to provide a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device producing a spark discharge at said discharge device.

3. An ignition system including a distribution circuit with a-spark discharge device, inductance.

in said distribution circuit, capacitance in said distribution circuit, and means including a distributor for inductively connecting a source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means being arranged periodically to vary the inductance of said distribution circuit for periodically providing a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device to produce a spark discharge at said discharge device.

4. An ignition system including a distribution circuit with a spark discharge device, a capacitance in said distribution circuit, a source of high frequency current, and means including a distributor for inductively connecting said source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a rotatable magnetic coupling member for varying the inductance of said distribution circuit to provide a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device producing a spark discharge at said" discharge device.

5. An ignition system including a distribution circuit with a sparl: discharge device, a transformer connected to said spark discharge device,

a capacitance connected in series with said transformer, a source of high frequency current, and means including a distributor for inductively connecting said source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a rotatable member for varying the inductance 01' said distribution circuit to provide a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device producing a spark discharge at said discharge device.

6. An ignition system including a. distribution circuit with a spark discharge device, a capacitance in said rlistribution circuit, a source of high frequency current, and means including a distributor having a transformer for connecting said source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a magnetic shunt and a rotatable member adapted to complete periodically the magnetic circuit of said distributor transformer and to insert said magnetic shunt in said distributor transformer magnetic circuit for varying the inductance of said distribution circuit to provide periodically a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device connected to said distributor transformer and to produce a spark discharge at said discharge device.

'7. An ignition system including a distribution circuit with a spark discharge device, a transformer connected to said spark discharge device, capacitance in said distribution circuit, a source of high frequency current, and means including a distributor having a transformer for connecting said source of high frequency current to said dis tribution circuit, said distributor means including a magnetic shunt and a rotatable magnetic coupling member adapted to complete the magnetic aaonivs circuit of said distributor transformer and subsequently to insert said magnetic shunt in said distributor transformer magnetic circuit or varying the inductance of said distribution circuit to provide a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device connected to said distributor transformer and to produce a. spark discharge at said discharge device.

8. An ignition system including a distribution circuit with a sparl: discharge device, a transformer connected to said spark discharge device,

a capacitance connected in series with said transformer, a source of high ireuuency current, and means including a distributor having a transformer for connecting said source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a magnetic shunt and a rotatable magnetic coupling member adapted to complete the magnetic circuit of said distributor transformer and to insert said magnetic shunt in said distributor transformer magnetic circuit for varying the inductance oi said distribution circuit to provide a resonant circuit with said spark discharge device connected to said distributor transformer and to produce a spark discharge at said discharge device.

9. An ignition system including a distribution circuit with a spark discharge device, a transformer connected to said spark discharge device, capacitance in said distribution circuit, and means including a distributor having a transformer for connecting a source of high frequency current to said distribution circuit, said distributor means including a magnetic shunt and a rotatable magnetic coupling member adapted to complete the magnetic circuit oi said distributor transformer and subsequently to insert said magnetic shunt in said distributor transformer magnetic circuit for changing the inductance of said distribution circuit to provide resonant circuit with said discharge device transformer connected to said diet. l

lition system i circuit with a dis, former connected to said discharge device, capacitance in said distribution circuit, a source of high frequency current, and means including a distributor having transformer for connectin said source of high frequency current to said distribution. circuit, said distributor means including a magnetic shunt and a rotatable magnetic coupling member adapted perioi'l'lcally to complete the magnetic circuit of said distributor transformer and subsequently to insert said magnetic shunt insaid distributor transformer magnetic circuit for periodically coupling said distribution circuit to the source of current and for periodically changing. the inductance of said distribution circuit to provide a resonant circuit with said discharge device transformer connected to said distributor transformer and to produce a spark discharge at said discharge-device.

"WAYNE J. MORRILL. 

